Students' self-reported well-being under corona measures, lessons for the future
Ralph Meulenbroeks1, Wouter R van Joolingen1
1Freudenthal Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Heliyon
|January 24, 2022
Summary
Online education during lockdowns impacted student well-being, undermining psychological needs for competence and relatedness despite increased autonomy. Students require more support to address these challenges.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Education
- Sociology
Background:
- The shift to online education in 2020 due to lockdowns raised concerns about student well-being.
- This study investigates student well-being within the framework of Basic Psychological Need Theory, a sub-theory of Self-Determination Theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine student well-being at a large urban university's science faculty during the shift to online education.
- To identify specific areas of well-being affected and understand the impact on basic psychological needs.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach combining an online student survey (2228 participants) and a student focus group interview.
- Survey included 16 Likert-scale questions and two open-ended questions, analyzed using factor analyses.
- Focus group data and open-ended responses provided qualitative insights into student experiences.
Main Results:
- Factor analyses revealed well-being issues in study, personal worries, personal well-being, and societal worries.
- Students appreciated the autonomy and flexibility of online learning (e.g., reduced travel).
- Psychological needs for competence and relatedness were significantly undermined due to poor student-teacher interaction, loneliness, and lack of structure.
Conclusions:
- While online education offers autonomy, it negatively impacts students' sense of competence and relatedness.
- Students need enhanced support, including on-campus interactions, psychological aid, improved online pedagogy, and flexible regulations.
- Addressing these needs is crucial for supporting student well-being in online learning environments.
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